His reflexes were slower this time. Much slower. Her words were as sharpened steel to his throat, catching him even further off-guard and throwing his thoughts into disarray. Though soon enough he would recover, returning to that same bitter fury... the burning coals alight in the furnace and resembling that of the very same from which their first meeting had been forged. The girl would suddenly feel her feather-like weight being lifted slowly upward then with ungentle care, his strength clearly reserved, though just enough to force her upon to the balls of her feet. With the neckline of her shirt scrunched beneath the strength of the Xaelan's large, clenched fist, her face was brought much closer towards his now, his towering form - in part - compensating for their significant difference in height as he hunched over her menacingly, erasing all around them until nothing remained in either of their worlds but the other.
"Who ARE you, Raen?"
"Who ARE you, Raen?"
![[Image: ecec20e41f.png]](https://puu.sh/xvMxb/ecec20e41f.png)
Characters: Andre Winter (Hy'ur) / K'nahli Yohko (Miqo'te)
